“There is another! a second! a third! a fourth! a whole party!” were the sudden cries in the Swedish ranks.
In fact, horsemen began to pour out from both sides of the road; at first singly, then by twos, by threes. All took their places in line with him who had appeared first.
But the second Swedish guard with Sweno, and then the whole detachment with Kanneberg, came up. Kanneberg and Sweno rode to the front at once.
“I know those men!” cried Sweno, when he had barely seen them; “their squadron was the first to strike on Prince Waldemar at Golamb; those are Charnyetski’s men. He must be here himself!”
These words produced an impression; deep silence followed in the ranks, only the horses shook their bridle-bits.
“I sniff some ambush,” continued Sweno. “There are too few of them to meet us, but there must be others hidden in the woods.”
He turned here to Kanneberg: “Your worthiness, let us return.”
“You give good counsel,” answered the colonel, frowning. “It was not worth while to set out if we must return at sight of a few ragged fellows. Why did we not return at sight of one? Forward!”
The first Swedish rank moved at that moment with the greatest regularity; after it the second, the third, the fourth. The distance between the two detachments was becoming less.
“Cock your muskets!” commanded Kanneberg.